Hyderabad: This year might go down in history as the worst year that both the states have ever seen as far as water inflows into their dams are concerned.
August is over and not a drop a drop of water has flown into the Krishna Basin Dams in Telangana and AP. Officials say only a miracle can save the situation.
The miracle will have to be something like the huge flood in 2009 when over 25 lakh cusecs were recorded at Srisailam on October 2, 3 and 4.
June, July and August normally account for an estimated inflow of 400 TMC ft into the dams due to the Southwest monsoon. This year will be one of the worst as not a drop of water has been received from upstream.
September, when the floods normally recede, is supposed to contribute 200 TMC ft to the reservoirs in the two Telugu-speaking states, which isn’t likely.
“This is the worst water year which we have heard of; our priority now is not irrigation but to meet drinking water needs under the Krishna Basin projects for which we need to prepare contingency plans,” said C. Muralidhar TS engineering-in-chief.
The Justice Brijesh Kumar Tribunal, which had dealt with Krishna River water distribution among the riparian states in its final verdict in 2013 — which is still pending with the Centre — had stated that Krishna River flows should be shared among the states even in deficit years like this year.
